ActionAid Ghana Introduces Two-Year VOICES Project in Mfantseman to Empower Mining Communities

ActionAid Ghana has engaged stakeholders in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region as part of efforts to empower mining communities through its two-year Uplifting the Voices of Mining Communities (The VOICES project).

The initiative seeks to strengthen community participation in mining governance by educating residents on their rights and responsibilities while equipping them with the knowledge to engage relevant authorities on issues surrounding mineral resource management and the benefits of mining activities.

The stakeholder engagement forum was held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly Hall, bringing together representatives of key institutions, traditional authorities, women’s groups and other stakeholders to discuss ways of ensuring that mining communities actively participate in decisions affecting their natural resources.

Speaking at the forum, the Greater Accra, Volta, Oti and Central Regional Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Madam She-Vera Anzagira, called for collaboration, unity and peaceful engagement among stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the VOICES Project in Mfantseman.

In an interview with NewsAfricaGhana after the engagement, Madam Anzagira explained that the two-year initiative, funded by Comic Relief, was designed to sensitise mining communities about their rights and responsibilities and empower them to engage government and other relevant institutions on how mineral resources can contribute meaningfully to local development.

She emphasised that communities must be adequately informed and actively involved in mining governance to ensure that the benefits derived from mineral exploitation translate into improved livelihoods and development for residents.

Madam Anzagira further disclosed that ActionAid Ghana would collaborate with key institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), traditional authorities, women’s groups and other relevant stakeholders to advance the objectives of the project.

She noted that the engagement would also focus on how communities in Mfantseman could participate in discussions surrounding lithium production and ensure that local residents understand the opportunities, responsibilities and potential benefits associated with the exploitation of the mineral resource.

According to her, ActionAid Ghana would extend the sensitisation exercise to communities directly affected by mining activities, working closely with the Mfantseman Municipal Assembly and traditional authorities to ensure that residents are reached with the necessary information.

She stressed that the success of the VOICES Project would depend largely on the collective commitment of stakeholders, particularly community members, traditional leaders, government institutions and civil society organisations.

The project is expected to create opportunities for mining communities to make their concerns heard, participate in decision-making processes and engage relevant authorities on issues relating to transparency, accountability and the equitable distribution of benefits from mineral resources.

Through the VOICES Project, ActionAid Ghana aims to strengthen community voices and promote inclusive participation in mining governance, particularly in areas where mineral exploration and production could have significant implications for livelihoods and local development.